Preview:
Three years after being knocked out by Hapoel Umm al-Fahm in the eighth round of the State Cup, both sides were drawn to face each other once again in the same stage of the competition. With Umm al-Fahm’s stadium on the verge of being completed, Vladimir Ivic’s side travelled to the Acre Municipal stadium for the State Cup tie. The Serbian coach who clearly remembers that miserable night in Afula in 2019 didn’t take any chances as he named his strongest side against the second division outfit. Daniel Peretz, who was rested in the midweek Toto Cup victory over Hapoel Jerusalem, returned to goal with Enric Saborit, Bir Bitton and Sheran Yeini lining-up as the three central defenders. Matan Hozez and Ofir Davidzada completed Maccabi’s defensive line as the two wing-backs on the right and left respectively. Eyal Golasa and Gabi Kanichowsky were assigned to the midfield engine room with Oscar Gloukh in a more attacking role right behind Eran Zahavi and Djordje Jovanovic.
On the bench Ivic named goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum alongside Dan Glazer, Joris van Overeem, Avi Rikan, Yonatan Cohen, Maor Kandil, Shahar Piven, Dor Turgeman and Dor Peretz all waiting for a chance to make an impact.
First Half
Seconds after kickoff a barrage of flairs were thrown onto the pitch from the section of the home fans causing a delay. When the smoke finally cleared and play was resumed the hosts created the first chance as Sameh Mereb tried firing a shot from inside the box which was blocked by Maccabi’s defence.
Nir Bitton was the first player to be booked by referee Roei Reinshreiber as the tall central defender was penalized in the 23rd minute for a mistimed tackle on Umm al-Fahm’s midfielder Reef Mesika.
Five minutes later Maccabi had the first shot on goal as Gabi Kanichowsky tried a right foot shot from the edge of the area which was blocked for a corner. A foul on Enric Saborit in the 44th minute saw Sheran Yeini protest to the referee before consequently being booked for dissent. Within a minute Maccabi had a third player booked as Matan Hozez was shown the yellow card for a foul outside the center circle on Mesika. From the resulting free kick Umm al-Fahm took the lead as Maccabi’s defence failed to clear a Kobi Mor cross which fell to Niv Sardal whose fierce low drive took a deflection off Ofir Davidzada to beat Daniel Peretz.
Second Half
With no changes to personnel, Maccabi emerged from the dressing room determined to level the score. A minute after the restart they came close as Hozez’s knock-down into the path of Djordje Jovanovic saw the Serbian forward attempt an overhead kick which sailed wide.
Maccabi’s players continued to look nervous as Davidzada was booked on 53 for handling the ball near the halfway line. While Ivic was preparing a double change on the sidelines, Umm al-Fahm doubled their lead as Sardal grabbed his second with another powerful strike which rocketed in between Peretz and his post. Ivic then made his changes as he replaced both wing-backs with Yonatan Cohen and Maor Kandil coming on for Davidzada and Hozez.
Right on the hour mark Maccabi finally had a shot on target as Oscar Gloukh dribbled into the area and sent a shot which was easily collected by Umm al-Fahm’s keeper Tal Bumshtein.
Three minutes later Gloukh turned provider as he slid the ball to Jovanovic who cut the deficit with a low drive which beat Bumshtein. The consolation goal gave Maccabi a new lifeline as Kandil won a 50/50 tackle and charged forward before leaving the ball for Kanichowsky. The diminutive midfielder slid the ball to Eran Zahavi who was brought down in the area by Marcus Diniz. Reinshreiber pointed at the spot as Zahavi successfully converted the spot kick to level the score and complete the three minute comeback.
Maccabi continued to step-up the tempo and almost took the lead on 71 but Jovanovic curled his shot wide of the target. Eyal Golasa had the ball in the back of the net in the 75th minute with a spectacular shot from the edge of the area but the midfielder’s goal was disallowed as Reinshreiber spotted a Kanichowsky foul on Salomon Daniel. Maccabi were saved by the post at the opposite end minutes later as Bahajat Bashir’s header beat Peretz but stuck the woodwork. The end to end action continued on 79 as a Gloukh shot fell to Cohen who was meters away and with the goal at his mercy managed to miskick his effort across the face of goal and wide.
Two minutes later Ivic made another change as Kanichowsky bowed out and was replaced by Avi Rikan. Seconds later Maccabi completed the comeback as Enric Saborit picked Zahavi who still had his work cut out before blasting a right foot shot from outside the area which gave Bumshtein no chance to make it 3-2. Jovanovic could have sealed the victory in the 86th minute as Gkoukh released him with a delicate chip but Bumstein managed to palm the ball out.
Umm al Fahm were reduced to 10 men in the closing stages as Ameed Mahajna was shown the red card for a foul on Saborit on the halfway line. Ivic made a final change as Dor Peretz replaced Gloukh. Reinshreiber’s final whistle confirmed Maccabi’s place in the round of 16 draw which is scheduled for Tuesday December 13th at 12:45 with matches set for January 3rd – 5th.
